Chapter 143

Chapter 143

With the autumn exams just a few months away, Liu Yizhu couldn't afford to waste even half a minute. He went to the study hall for lessons as usual every day, but his steps quickened a little on his way back.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, Li Mingwei greeted him with a delighted expression, excitedly waving at him: "Quick, come and help change your son's diaper. He's messed himself again."

Liu Yizhu's footsteps faltered, and the smile on his face faded a little. He knew it, whenever his wife had that look on her face, it couldn't be anything good.

He placed his books on the kang bed platform and took the baby from Li Mingwei's arms, gently patting him. The little maid had prepared some hot water on the table, about to take the baby from him.

"Master, let me do it."

"No need, I'll do it myself."

Liu Yizhu shook his head, declining her offer. The maid handed him a cloth and conscientiously stepped outside.

Liu Simo was a good boy; before he turned a month old, his face had already rounded up and become fairer. According to his mother, he had grown enough to be presentable.

Liu Yizhu placed him on the kang and gently stroked his chubby cheeks, then skillfully untied his swaddling clothes and changed his diaper.

Li Mingwei leaned back on the bed, peering at him with admiration: "Not bad, looks like Mother taught you well before she left."

As the first child of the Liu family's grandchild generation, Old Lady Wang naturally wanted to celebrate the full moon ceremony. A few days ago, she had already returned home to prepare the feast, only waiting for Li Mingwei's confinement period to end before bringing the baby back to the town for everyone to see.

"Have you requested leave?" she asked. "My sister and brother-in-law should be coming to pick us up tomorrow, and we'll head back early the day after."

They had been staying in Lord Tang's residence for over half a year now. Since they had to go back for the full moon ceremony, they might as well move back at the same time.

"Yes, just two days off," Liu Yizhu replied, carefully wrapping the cleaned baby and placing him back on the bed. He couldn't help but caress him with a hint of reluctance: "After you go back, you won't be coming back here, will you?"

Which meant he could only see them once every half a month or a month from then on.

Li Mingwei tucked the blanket around the baby and turned to him with a displeased look, teasing: "Can't decide if you'll miss me or the baby more?"

Liu Yizhu leaned against her gently, looking up at her: "What do you think?"

Seeing her fall silent, Liu Yizhu nudged her chin with his forehead: "Why so quiet all of a sudden?"

"Madam, please check the water temperature."

Li Mingwei dipped her hand in and nodded with a smile. The maids then helped her undress and stepped into the tub, leaning against the edge. As long as she could bathe, she didn't mind the herbal scent.

Aunt Qin untied her headscarf and gently combed through her hair, carefully unknotting any tangles. Since Li Mingwei would be leaving soon, Aunt Qin wanted to make sure everything went smoothly on this last day.

Li Mingwei had planned to savor the bath a little longer, but Aunt Qin gently advised: "The water is cooling down now, Madam. You should get out soon. If you catch a chill, you'll have to take medicine, and that won't be good for nursing the baby."

Thinking of her ravenous little one at home, Li Mingwei reluctantly agreed.

She walked out of the bathroom, basking in the warmth of the sun, and stretched lazily. Just this one bath made her feel revitalized and refreshed.

She turned to Aunt Qin, who had followed her out, and asked: "No one has come yet?"

Aunt Qin bowed: "No message from the gatehouse yet."

Li Mingwei looked up, squinting at the sky. It was well past noon now. Why hadn't her sister and brother-in-law arrived yet? Had something happened on the road?

That shouldn't be the case. If they could travel snowy paths, a regular road shouldn't pose any problems.

Or had they gotten lost again? They'd been here four or five times already, so that seemed unlikely too.

Oh well, Li Mingwei didn't dwell on it any further and instructed: "Have the gatehouse send someone to look around the city gates. It's getting late, but they shouldn't be this delayed."

"Yes, Madam."

Aunt Qin went to carry out the order while Li Mingwei returned to her room with the maids. Another maid had made her bed and organized some clothes for her.

Her sharp eyes noticed some new outfits that didn't belong to her, and she picked one up to examine it: "What are these?"

"They're from the young master..." The maid paused, then continued, "From the master of the manor."

"My brother-in-law?" Li Mingwei clarified, referring to Lord Tang.

The maid nodded immediately: "Yes, the master said your old clothes wouldn't be suitable anymore, so he had these new ones made for you. He assured you that the fabric isn't too fine, so you won't stand out too much when you wear them back in town."

Li Mingwei pursed her lips wryly. While the fabric wasn't too fancy, there were just too many outfits. If she changed into a new one every few days after returning, people would surely gossip behind her back, wondering if she had stumbled upon a fortune in the county town during these months.